Virgin cabin crew told to mind their Ps,Qs and mates

Virgin’s Australian cabin crew will undergo etiquette classes to improve the airline’s chances of competing for business passengers.

While most employers will offer information technology (IT) training or team-building exercises, Virgin is more concerned about the etiquette of its Australian staff.

Classes will include wine appreciation and guides to body language, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.

Cabin crew have also been told that they should refrain from calling passengers ‘mate’ unless a frequent flier has actually requested it.

Mark Hassell, group executive of brand and customer experience at Virgin Australia, said: “We are not creating clones and we are not creating straitjackets for people.

“We want to retain the spirit that exists within Virgin’s service style and behaviour, but put it in a context that is equally relevant for business-purpose and corporate travellers.”

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